Dr. Hanna Ekstrom recently set out to “serve the under-served” — and their four-legged friends, who serve them in so many ways.
Ekstrom parked her mobile vet clinic in front of the Real Change office on Main Street on July 10, unrolled a Seattle Veternary Outreach banner, set up a covering to protect her staff from the rain and used a chalkboard as a waiting list. Vendors signed in with theirs and their pets’ names to get free veterinary service.
Ekstrom and her staff worked from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m examining blood and urine, listening to heartbeats, trimming claws, handing out treats and touching wet noses.
The clinic is Ekstrom’s way of keeping homeless pets and people safe, healthy and together.
Her operation is mostly self-financed, but she did get a grant from The Seattle Foundation and is looking to create partnerships with others.
“I would like to open this up to vet hospitals nearby and to find other vets willing to give time,” she said. “We’re going to have a second vet, so I can have a break to go to the bathroom and eat something. There’s just not enough of me to go around.”
With that in mind, Dr. Ekstrom will be back at Real Change next month. The clinic will also serve the under-served at St. Vincent DePaul in Georgetown. For future clinic dates, check the Seattle Veterinary Outreach website.
Read the full July 17 - 23 issue.
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